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How to Be a Proper Guest in a Restaurant

By eHow Culture & Society Editor

Rate: (7 Ratings)

Being a good guest is part politeness, part great conversation, and mostly enthusiasm.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Etiquette Book

Step1

Inquire about the restaurant. Is it fancy or informal? Small and intimate or huge and boisterous? Dress for the occasion so you'll be comfortable and at ease. If you have special dietary needs (you're a vegetarian, you're allergic to garlic, and so on), inform your host well in advance.

Step2

Make sure you understand the financial situation: is the host treating? Is a group paying for a friend with a birthday? Have money on your person regardless.

Step3

Wait in the entry if you arrive first.

Step4

Pretend you like the food, even if you don't. No matter what the menu, there's bound to be some dish you can get down.

Step5

Be sensible. Don't eat something that tends to make you feel ill afterwards.

Step6

Be flexible. If it's a family-style feast and you hate to share your food, smile and make yourself a plate.

Step7

When eating, try to keep pace with everyone else, and take some time to speak to your neighbors. Give all your table partners equal attention, if possible.

Step8

Pull out those table manners. Bone up if you don't know them, and use them if you do.

Step9

Be moderate in all you do: drinking, eating, laughing, talking and chewing.

Step10

Thank everyone before you go.

Step11

Tip the parking valet and the coat check folks on your own.

Tips & Warnings

If possible, get the host to order first. Then order something right around the same price range.
If your host has a drink, feel free to order one too. The same goes for other courses, appetizers and desserts.
You can always offer to pay for the wine, the tip or a round of cocktails.
Don't order either the most expensive or least expensive items.
Don't apply makeup at the dinner table; powdering one's nose, however, is acceptable.
Don't pick up a dropped utensil; simply ask your server for a new one.
It's considered rude to table hop, but of course, greet your friends spotted at another table.

Comments

Anonymous said

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on 8/8/2006 Don't camp the table for very long after you've finished and paid. Your waiter isn't making any money while you sit there and hog the table. Go to the bar to continue the evening, or tip the waiter extra for blocking their table.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Try not to order foods that are likely to get on your clothes or fly off the plate. Spaghetti and fettuccine tend to flick their sauces right in the middle of your chest. Muscles in the shell like to slide around and hop off of your plate.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 If you have children, do not allow them to leave the table unless they have to use the restroom (you should always accompany them). A restaurant is not a playground. Children running around a restaurant disturbs other diners. Waiters may be carrying hot dishes, and children running about their feet presents a danger to themselves and to others.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Do not bring up politics, religion or any controversial issues while dining!

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Say hello to your server. If he/she asks how you're doing, politely respond. If the server asks how your food is, honestly answer right then instead of waiting until after you're all finished to say, "Wasn't I supposed to get a side of..." or "Wasn't this supposed to come with..." or "I didn't like that at all". If you would've said something when I asked you how your food was, I could've solved the problem for you!

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